prediction, the Messiah should make His appearance was fulfilled, and the people were looking "for redemption in Jerusalem;" when, in this "fulness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ.” So much for the

time.

2. Now the kingdom. The kingdom of God is at hand. The nature and extent of this kingdom, as well as the time of its approach, was foretold :-" And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these kingdoms;" Dan. ii, 44. And again :-"I saw in the night, visions; and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him; and there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; viii, 13, 14. Several great earthly monarchs are alluded to in the Book of Daniel, but it is evident that the kingdom here described is "not of this world." This is "diverse" from the kingdoms of the world. It cannot be

said of any earthly kingdom that it shall never be destroyed, but shall stand for ever; neither can it be said of any temporal prince that there is given unto him universal dominion, and an everlasting reign, and that he shall make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness. This can be applied to none but the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the Son of Man, of whom Jehovah saith,-"Thy name, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom." His kingdom is not of this world. It is not carnal, but spiritual; not in word, but in power. His subjects are not a mixed multitude, but “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;" showing forth in their conversation, life, and conduct, the praises of Him who hath called

This

them out of darkness into His marvellous light. kingdom was introduced by Christ Himself, and is now increasing; but it will not be fully completed, or "set up," till some future time, not very far distant, in the days of these kings which reign over the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire is now divided. Then shall all Israel be saved with the fulness of the Gentiles, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever.

II. The Lord's command given,-Repent ye, and believe the gospel.

1. Repentance is that godly sorrow for sin which produces newness of life, that contrite aspect the soul assumes as it approaches to the strait gate. It is the first step towards the kingdom of God, and therefore the first principle of the doctrine of Christ; and as such was by Him preached first in order. He told His disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem; and accordingly when Peter opened the Divine commission at Jerusalem, and charged the Jews with the murder of Christ, many were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles,—" Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter said,"Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost;" Acts, ii, 38. And again, he said to the men of Israel,-" Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" iii, 19. This doctrine was

preached to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews; and the believing Jews glorified God, who had "also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." St. Paul, in speaking to the Athenians, tells them that God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. And so He does; therefore, repent ye, humble yourselves before God, pray for deep penitence, bring before the Lord humble and contrite hearts, confess before Him your depravity and your guilt, cease to do evil, learn to do well, strive to enter in at the strait gate. Repent ye, and be

converted, that your sins may be blotted out, and that you may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2. Believe the gospel. I have before shown that repentance is that contrite aspect which the soul assumes as it approaches to the strait gate; but it is not the power by which the entrance is effected; it is the preparation of the heart, the evidence of conscious need of salvation; but it does not save. The confessions of David, the tears of Peter, the contrition of Saul of Tarsus, had no merit or power to save. Tears cannot atone for sin, neither can even godly sorrow remove guilt. By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of God. We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law; there fore, to him that believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Repentance, therefore, is of no avail without faith. It is true, there is a degree of faith which must precede repentance. He that cometh unto God must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. A belief in the existence of God, however, will not save, for the devils believe, and tremble. There is another degree of faith which is the ground of the sinner's hope, namely, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; but the mere assent to this joyful truth will not bring salvation, for very many believe this, and are not saved. It is with the heart that man believeth unto righteousness; and the faith which is necessary to introduce him into the kingdom of God is not a chain of ideas, nor a system of opinions, but a firm belief and persuasion which the Holy Spirit inspires in his breast, that Christ died for him; and that in consequence of the atonement, resurrection, and intercession of Christ, his sins are forgiven, and he constituted a child of God by the adop tion of grace. Hence saith the Lord,-" Repent ye, believe the gospel;" this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. The gospel is the good news of the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, and gives us the welcome intelligence that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Study the gospel; read and understand it; give ear to the ambas

and

sadors of Christ, for to them it pertains to preach the word of reconciliation; and therefore,

3. This Divine command should be deeply studied by all preachers and teachers. Repentance is usually the effect of instruction, attended by the Divine blessing: "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" 2 Tim. ii, 25. So it was in the time of Paul and Timothy; and so it was on the day of Pentecost. Peter instructed, God gave repentance, and the people were sorry for what they had done; they were pricked in their hearts, and they said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles,-"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" This is the ordinary rule, and therefore all preachers and teachers should take care that their instruction is of such a nature and quality as will be likely, by the Divine influence, to lead those who hear to repentance. And faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent ? as it is written :"How

beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Then let all teachers see to it that their ministrations are such as lead their hearers to the faith in Christ. And take heed how ye hear. Hear the gospel, and believe it. The word of promise did not profit the Israelites, because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it. Want of faith neutralizes all things, and makes the most searching teaching of none effect. Impenitence and unbelief will ruin the soul for ever. Let this truth sink deep into your heart, and repent ye, and believe the gospel.

RICHES AND HONOUR AT LAST.

1 CHRON. XXIX, 28.

And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour."

FEW persons have passed through greater vicissitudes in human life than king David, the sweet singer of Israel. From his birth at Bethlehem, to his death in his palace at Jerusalem, he experienced many changing scenes in life. His truly eventful career was marked by a passing succession of lights and shadows; the former the effect of Divine goodness; many of the latter the result of his own foolishness. Even after he was anointed king by the men of Judah, he had to contend with sore obstacles. Party spirit ran very high. Abner, the captain of Saul's host, slew Isdael, the brother of Joab, and the captain of David's host, and in revenge, Joab killed Abner, Saul's old general, who had outlived the battle of Gilboa only to be assassinated by blood-thirsty Joab. This was a sore grief to David, which, as we shall see in the sequel, he never forgot. Then the two captains of Ish-bosheth murdered him in his own house; and although David had them put to death for their perfidy, yet the barbarous act would create much sensation, and jeopardize the peace of the realm. David, however, was prompt and prudent, and all Israel declared him their king; and he went on, and grew great, because the Lord God of Hosts was with him. And he took the strong-hold of Zion, and brought the ark of God thither, and tranquillity was restored.

He then proposed to build a house to the name of the Lord, his God; but the Lord would not allow it, because he had been a man of war, and had shed blood abundantly; he however collected much material for it. Then he again went on, and grew great, and was successful, until the matter of Uriah, and that circumstance brought him immense trouble. Absalom slew Amnon, then Absalom usurped the kingdom, and David had to